Chapter 24 #3
Kira is waiting when we return. She's been pacing. Today was our first real venture out and she was not happy about it.
"Well?" she asks immediately. "What did you find?"
"Roman's planning a sweep. We've got maybe a week before he starts hitting every possible hiding place." I shrug off my jacket. "Which means we need to move first."
"Move how?"
"The meeting. Five days. We present the evidence, force them to choose." I meet her eyes. "It's risky. Probably stupid. But it's the only play we have."
She processes this, and I can see her mind working. The Ice Queen evaluating strategy, calculating odds.
"What do you need from me?" she asks finally.
"Your testimony. About what Roman did. What he planned for you and Anya." I move closer. "Your voice carries weight. You're not just the woman he tried to force into marriage—you're a leader in your own right. People will listen."
"Will they?" Her smile is bitter. "Maksim, my organization is gone. My reputation is—"
"Still intact." I cut her off. "You're not weak. And the families know it."
She studies my face, looking for lies. Finding only truth.
"Okay," she says quietly. "I'll testify. Tell them everything."
"Thank you." I reach for her hand. "This is going to work. It has to work."
"And if it doesn't?"
“It will. It has to.”
Semyon clears his throat. "I'm going to make some calls. Start coordinating for the meeting."
Anya is as the table painting as usual.
"There's something I need to tell you," Kira says. “Come with me.”
She leads me down the hall to the small bedroom we’ve been sharing. She closes the door and gestures for me to sit down.
I can see by the look on her face something is wrong. I don’t want to sit.
Her tone makes my stomach drop. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Exactly." She takes a breath. "Maksim, I'm pregnant."
The words don't register at first. I hear them, but they don't make sense.
"You're... what?"
"Pregnant." She's watching me carefully. "About six weeks, based on timing. From that first night at the engagement party I assume. I'm pregnant. With your child."
I stare at her and realize I’m trying to do the math but I don’t need to. I was there. We had sex. No condom. I just assumed she would be on birth control.
Pregnant. She's pregnant. With my baby.
Joy hits first—pure, unexpected joy. A child. Our child. The family we were supposed to have six years ago, finally possible.
Then terror crashes over it. A child. In the middle of this nightmare.
"Maksim?" Her voice is uncertain. "Say something."
"I'm going to be a father." The words feel surreal. "We're having a baby."
"Yes." She touches her stomach. "I know the timing is terrible. That this complicates everything. But I—"
I kiss her. Cut off whatever she was about to say with my mouth on hers. I’m terrified and joyful and overwhelmed all at once.
"This is—" I pull back, my hands framing her face. "This changes everything."
"I know." Her eyes search mine. "Is that good or bad?"
"It's—" I struggle for words. "It's terrifying. Bringing a child into this world, this danger. But it's also—God, Kira. A baby. Our baby."
"You're happy?" She sounds surprised.
"I'm terrified," I correct. "But yes. Happy." My hand moves to her stomach. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? Do you need—"
"I'm fine." She covers my hand with hers. "Morning sickness. Exhaustion. But fine. The baby is fine."
"The baby." I say it out loud, testing how it feels.
I sink onto the bed, pulling her down beside me. My hand stays on her stomach, like I can feel the life growing there even though I know it's too small yet. I want to protect that child. My hand over her stomach isn’t enough.
“If Roman finds out you're pregnant—"
“I know,” she whispers. “I was thinking we should run. We take Anya and we disappear. Leave Russia entirely.”
I understand her desire to get away. It’s crossed my mind, but I know it will never be over until Roman is dead and his network is crushed.
"I need to end this," I say. "Not just for us anymore. For our child. They can't grow up in this world. Can't be born into this danger."
"I know." She leans against me.
"It will work." I make it a promise. "Because the alternative is unacceptable. I won't let our child grow up without a father. Won't let Roman destroy another generation."
"We," she corrects softly. "We won't let that happen. We're in this together now."
"Have you told Anya?"
"She was there when I found out. But no one else knows." She looks up at me. "Maksim, we need to keep this quiet. If Roman learns I'm pregnant—"
"He'll use it against us." I understand immediately. "Another piece of leverage. Another way to hurt you."
We should be celebrating. Telling everyone. Planning a nursery and picking names and doing all the normal things expectant parents do.
Instead, we're hiding it like it's shameful instead of miraculous.
"I mean it, Kira. Whatever it takes. However ruthless I need to be. I'm ending this.”
"Don't get yourself killed trying to protect us," she says.
"I won't." I kiss her forehead. "I've survived six years in hell. I'm not dying now when I finally have something to live for."
"I love you," I say quietly. "I should have said it sooner. But I'm saying it now. I love you, Kira Markov.”
"I love you too." She tilts her face up to kiss me. "Always have. I will never not love you.”
I decide not to tell her about the incident in the street. She doesn’t need the stress.
I will protect this woman and our child.